Customer Reviews

The Endless Summer 2 - The Journey Continues [VHS]

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm glad to have this film on DVD after all this time! This movie takes you all around the world, from the beauty of the Fiji Islands to the crackpot idea of surfing the bear infested Alaskan coastline and beyond. I've been sharing this film with friends for years, and have been writing New Line Home Video for the past 6 years *begging* them to release this title on disc. Monterey Home Video seemed to have acquired the rights, and although I do give them kudos for coming up to plate with my request, I am disappointed that the film is only presented in full-screen mode with a stereo soundtrack. More importantly, the DVD transfer is rather poor for a modern-day DVD release. It pains me to not give this review five stars, it's such an incredible film, but this DVD release was a bit of a disappointment.

For those who wish to see another surf video based in the 60's, you should look elsewhere. Have no illusions, this is a modern-day "Endless Summer". Bruce Brown did a tremendous job putting together a surfing adventure which holds your interest from one end of the globe to the other. Balancing a number of today's different surf styles, we're offered everything from short boards to long boards to power surfing. The film is enriched with a wide variety of music, coupled with incredibly clear and well positioned camera shots. Add some of the best surfers in the world and you've got a 5 star surf film.

After viewing many of the other hundreds of surf video's out there, I still find myself coming back to this one. I especially enjoy the light humor through out the film. Still yet, I'm continually impressed with the top quality camera work and editing.

My how things change from the 1960s to the 1990s! The boards are smaller, the fashions more elaborate, the girls-well they are still sexy- and seem to have reduced their clothing somewhat-and the waves have gotten bigger, meaner and hollower. Something else has also changed in surfing-money. There is plenty of it here-surf boats, surf camps, professional surfers (what are they?, -I hear the voices of the 1960s echo- Getting paid to surf?, surely not!), and charter planes. Well, the film was well financed, but the average surfers these days have more of these options as well.

In Endless Summer 2, places visited in the original 1966 film include only a few: eg South Africa-Cape St Francis, and West Africa-except that its Elands Bay this time and Namibia, not the Ivory Coast area and Senegal(?), as in the 1966 film. Most of the places are, however, new ones, as the best surf spots in the world have mostly been discovered since the original film was made.

In this film we get to see good quality surf in: Fiji (Tavarua and Restaurants), Indonesia (Grajagan of course), Hawaii, Elands Bay and J-Bay (very good 6 foot surf), and Cape St Francis (all South Africa), (note: if you are ever in South Africa don't miss Kitchen Windows (in my experience its under-rated) and 'Jungenfentein' (or something like that)), several in Central America (I'm not familiar with these spots, but they are near Panama I think). They also go to France and Australia, but the surf doesn't oblige when they did the filming in these two places.

It is particularly a pity for the Australian segment, where they didn't get much surf, as they went to some of the best surf spots in Australia on the north coast of NSW (eg Lennox, Angourie, Cabarita, Broken Head), and southern Queensland (eg Snapper, Burleigh, Kirra). (The last 3 times I have been to these areas I have got 6 foot surf each time-must have been lucky).

Overall a fun and interesting expose of world surf culture in the 1990s, with some of the better-known world surf spots, and a bit of humour and some very good quality surf thrown in, especially at Grajagan (G-land), Tavarua, and my favourite-J-Bay.

I was 14 when the first Endless Summer came out and even though is was shot in 16mm, it's priceless. When The Endless Summer II came out, I loved it. The same story format (yes, corny at times, but hey, that's the fun of it) excellent photography and love the music. When I heard ES II was being released on DVD I was thrilled, but...
I'm on my second DVD and in the movie there's half the sound on the left channel that there is on the right. On the bio's, scrapbook, making of ESII, etc. there's no sound at all on the left channel. Tried it on 3 players...same thing. On the jacket is does say stereo (?). Quality control seems to be an issue here. I'm also not pleased it's not in full frame.
I emailed monterey media and will be interested to see what they do about the problem. I do hope the release it full frame and better sound quality. 5 Stars for content, 0 Stars for sound and format, that's why I rate it a 3

This film is the epitome of surf films. Bruce Brown is the standard in which anyone who makes a surf film should be measured to. Great Cinematogrophy, great camera angles, great sufers to make the main charachters. Robert "wingnut" Weaver, and Pat O'connel are a perfect pair to make someone want to go out, and brave the treacherous ocean for that rush of adrenaline, joy, and most of all an ear to ear smile. This film is just plain fun to watch over, and over. From Costa Rica, to Cloud Break, Surfing with Laird and the Boys, this is a must for any surf enthusiasts, and anyone that likes to laugh, listen to great music, and see beautiful images of aquamarine. Now for my one and only gripe about this DVD...WHERE THE HELL IS THE WIDESCREEN VERSION???????? WHERE THE HELL IS THE 5.1 SURROUND SOUND??? This DVD looks like it was printed by 12 year olds! These reasons were the only reasons I rated this DVD a 4 star venture. Had it been in Widescreen and 5.1 I would have rated it 10 stars!!!! The first thing you may notice when you purchase this DVD is it looks like a bootleg copy. The cover looks like your friend Jimmy made it on his home Pc. Pretty much a poor effort in post production here Monterey. You guys suck! Wheres Artisan when you need them??? Artisan PLEASE pick this up and make a widescreen version!!!!! Step Into Liquid is how a surfing film DVD should be released!!!! Kudos to Artisan!!!(Monterey take some tips)

As some others have commented, the DVD production is not the best; it is "fullscreen," not widescreen as is the VHS version, and some image compression artifacts are visible. As to the content, it's 5 stars all the way, a worthy sequel to the '66 classic. truly incredible cinematography, brown's light-hearted commentary, and a couple of agreeable kids and you have a modern classic.

hopefully, they'll put out a more deluxe edition.

Robert Weaver follows up the original idea of the endless summer some 30 years later...after the original. There is quite a show of contrast between the "modern" surfer and the "Surfers of old" where styles are concerned, but the original message carried from "Endless Summer" remains... Surfing is not just a sport..or a pastime. It, for some is a way of life, a religion. Great show even if you don't surf..the dialogue and the scenes are great. Fabulous movie. Spend the money..check it out. END

I read the review where someone said this movie is full frame, so I referenced this movie on dvdplanet.com. Sure enough, it says it's full frame!! Unforgiveable !! I think this is 1 of the best movies ever. Who is the bird brained gremmie responsible for sabotaging this dvd ? Grrrrrrr. I was going to buy this dvd, but now I will just record from my ES II laserdisc onto a dvd.

It just doesn't get any better. The surf, the locations, and the music. Now If I can just get my hands on a DVD version. Every surfer should have a copy of Endless Summer 2. It will take you a away and put you in a better place all while sitting in your favorite recliner. I don't care if it's a cold and gray day in January, you will want to go surfing so bad after watching this movie or atleast go wax your board!

Push play, grab a cold beer, and sit back and let Endless Summer 2 Take you away. Finally a way to dream again.

Enjoy, Eddie

The transfer is not widescreen, so you cannot see the outer edges of the film. For a film that spends so much time on shots of WAVES which are HORIZONTAL ("THINK McFly! THINK!"), this is unbelievable to me!

Fullscreen only?! ARGH! lol "<SSSK> EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MICHAEL HARPSTER, PLEASE REPORT TO MY OFFICE"

When I put the DVD in my cheap-o Mintek player (my Sony player finally gave up the ghost) it just loops endlessly through the FBI Warning, the Monterey Media Splash screen and the Movie Splash screen. This way, I get to see over and over again exactly who the incompetent folks are who are responsible for this sad adaptation to DVD format! Monterey Media! Hooray!

I am only able to get to the root menu by pressing the "MENU" button at *exactly* the right moment during this looping.

The root menu has two links that go to the same Special Features screen, which is silly and confusing. And the "Scene Access" link just takes me to that same Special Features screen! LOL

However, the movie itself plays just fine, with good sound and picture quality. And there are three Special Feature shows of about 20 minutes each that had some cool stuff in them, although again, production quality was pretty sad.

WHY IS IT TAKING THE MOVIE BIZ SO LONG TO GET IT'S ACT TOGETHER ON DOING DVDs THE RIGHT WAY?!!!! lol

My prediction: They'll clean this disc up and re-release it in a few months. Save your money, and buy the cleaned-up version when it comes out.